Lightning arrester



April 25, 1933. D BERRY 1,905,970

LIGHTNING ARRESTER Filed May 16, 1931 f nvenror T. D. Bery- Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES THOMAS DUDLEY BERRY, or MARKDALE, oN'rARIo, CANADA LIGHTNING ARRESTER Application filed May 16,

This invention relates to lightning arresters of the horn gap or spill-over gap type comprising two opposed horns of conducting material which are electrically insulated from each other. These horns are usually close together at their lower ends and diverge widely at their upper ends, but may be arranged in any suitable'manner.

It has been found that the efficiency of these arresters varies with atmospheric conditions, and particularly moisture conditions, and the object of the present invention is to devise a construction which will automatically adjust itself as the moisture varies in the air surrounding the arrester.

I attain my object by making one or both horns of the arrester adjustable, the adjustment being controlled by a member or part the condition of which is effected by the amount of moisture in the atmosphere. While various arrangements for this purpose are possible, a suitable construction for the purpose is hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the lightning arrester; and

Fig. 2, a plan view of the same.

In the drawing like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

In the drawin I show an arrester of the Schweitzer and onrad type, which is well known in the art, but it will be understood,

of course, that I do not desire-to limit my invention to use with this particular arrester.

1 and 2 are the usual horns or discharge electrodes which are mounted respectively on posts 3 and 4, which are in turn mounted on any convenient support 5; The horns in actual use are in fixed relationship to one another, although means may be provided for manually adjusting their relative position.

As stated in the preamble of this specifica- 5 tion, my invention consists in providing means for automatically varying the position of these horns relative to one another as the moisture or humidity of the atmosphere varies.

I therefore slidably support the horn 2 on 1931. Serial No. 537,901.

its post 4, the latter being formed as a pin having an insulator thereon. Also mounted on the support 5 is a further post 6, on the head of which is mounted the automatic control means for the movable horn 2. This control means comprises a tube 7 having an internal shoulder 8 at its end adjacent the born 2. Within the tube is slidable the member or plunger 9, and a coil spring 10 normally tends to force the member 9 towards the remote end of the tube 7. A rod 11 has one end secured to the movable horn 2 and its other end to the movable member or plunger 9. Connecting the movable member 9 with the shoulder 8 are tapes or cords 12 of fabric or other self-adjusting material which limit the outward movement of the member 9 under the action of the spring 10. This selfadjusting material is of a kind the length of which will vary in accordance with the amount of moisture to which it is subjected. I find that a hard woven cotton tape is very sui'ltable for use as the self-adjusting mater1a From the construction described, it will be evident that the less the moisture or humidity in the atmosphere the greater will be the length of the self-adjusting members 12, which will enable the spring 10 to move the member 9 outwardly and thus draw the horn 2 away from the horn 1. As the atmosphere becomes more moist, the members 12 will also become moist and become shorter, thus pulling the member 9 inwardly against the spring and moving the horn 2 towards the horn 1.

It will be evident that various forms of control mechanism and also various methods of mounting the same may be devised, and the main feature of my invention resides in the broad idea of automatically controlling 7 the spill-over gap to compensate for the moisture conditions of the atmosphere.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a lightning arrester, the combination of a pair of spaced discharge electrodes, one of which is movable relative to the other; and means for automatically varying the spacing of said electrodes in accordance with the moisture conditions of the atmosphere.

2. In a lightning arrester, the combination of a pair of spaced discharge electrodes, one of which is movable relative to the other; and means, including a member self-adjustable in accordance with the moisture content of the atmosphere for controlling the spacing between said electrodes.

3. In a lightning arrester, the combination of a pair of spaced discharge electrodes, one of which is movable relative to the other; means normally tending to increase the spacing of said electrodes; and means self-adjustable in accordance with the moisture conditions of the atmosphere, for limiting the spacing of said electrodes.

4. In a lightning arrester, the combination of a pair of spaced discharge electrodes, one of which is slidably mounted; spring means normally tending to increase the spacing 01 said electrodes; and means self-adjustable in accordance with the moisture conditions of the atmosphere, for limiting the spacing of said electrodes.

5. In a lightning arrester, the combination of a pair of spaced discharge electrodes, one of which is movable relative to the other; a tube having an internal shoulder near its end adjacent the movable electrode, a plunger slidable in said tube; a rod connecting said plunger and movable electrode; a spring normally tending to move said plunger away from the internal shoulder; and means selfadjustable in length in accordance with the moisture conditions of the atmosphere for limiting the movement of said plunger under the action of the spring.

6. In a lightning arrester, the combination of a pair of spaced discharge electrodes, one of which is movable relative to the other; and means, including a member variable in length in accordance with the moisture content of the atmosphere for controlling the spacing between said electrodes.

7. In a lightning arrester, the combination of a pair of spaced discharge electrodes, one of which is movable relative to the other; and means, including a member the ends of which are adjustable relative to one another in accordance with the moisture content of the atmosphere for controlling the spacing between said electrodes.

8. In a lightning arrester, the combination of a pair of spaced discharge electrodes, one of which is movable relative to the other; means normally tending to vary the spacing of said electrodes: and means self-adjustable in accordance with the moisture conditions of the atmosphere for controlling the operation of said first mentioned means.

9. In a lightning arrester, the combination of a pair of spaced discharge electrodes, one of which is movable relative to the other; and means for automatically decreasing the spacing of said electrodes as the moisture content of the atmosphere increases.

10. In a lightning arrester, the combination of a pair of spaced discharge electrodes, one of which is movable relative to the other; means normally tending to increase the spacing of said electrodes; and means adapted to decrease in length as it absorbs moisture and lengthen as it dries for limiting the spacing of said electrodes.

11. In a lightning arrester, the combination of a pair of spaced discharge electrodes, one of which is movable relative to the other; and means adapted to decrease in length as it absorbs moisture and lengthen as it dries for limiting the spacing of said electrodes.

Signed at Markdale this 27th day of April THOMAS 'D. BER-RY. 

